NW Kansas News

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation, has joined with other senators to request audits following a midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The incident involved a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342, resulting in 67 fatalities.

The senators have sent a letter to the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Transportation (DOT OIG) and the Inspector General of the Department of the Army (Army OIG), urging them to conduct concurrent audits. They aim to address ongoing coordination issues between the Army and DCA air traffic control.

"The senators requested DOT OIG to evaluate the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) management of the DCA airspace," focusing on whether FAA's decisions contributed to the accident. They also asked for an assessment of ADS-B Out exemptions.

Additionally, "the senators also asked Army OIG to review the Army’s coordination with FAA," including pilot training standards and policies on ADS-B equipage. The audits will explore if improved procedures or communication systems could enhance aviation safety in DCA airspace.

Senator Moran has introduced legislation requiring all aircraft in high-volume airspace to use ADS-B technology.

On March 11, a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) detailed findings from this collision. The NTSB released urgent safety recommendations for deconflicting fixed-wing and rotorcraft traffic in the National Capital Region (NCR). From October 2021 through December 2024, there were over 15,000 close proximity incidents involving commercial aircraft and helicopters.

Despite these findings, another incident occurred on May 1 when an Army Black Hawk helicopter aborted a landing at the Pentagon Heliport. This led DCA air traffic control to issue go-around orders for two commercial aircraft.

The DOT OIG audit is expected to assess FAA oversight concerning aviation safety gaps around DCA and analyze data related to loss of separation incidents. It will also examine FAA's role in managing airspace design failures that may have contributed to accidents.

The Army OIG audit will focus on its coordination with FAA during NCR operations, pilot training standards, ADS-B policies, maintenance protocols for UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, compliance with agreements regarding flight operations in NCR, and reviewing loss of separation incidents involving its rotorcraft.

Both audits are intended "to determine whether improved FAA and Army procedures" would enhance aviation safety within NCR.